Real Madrid chief Florentino Perez is ready to raid the Premier League in January, as the European champions look to bolster their squad.

The back-to-back Champions League winners and reigning Spanish champions are eight points off the pace in La Liga, and were comfortably beaten by Tottenham at Wembley last Wednesday.

That has seen questions asked of Zinedine Zidane and the club's hierarchy, after a summer where a number of senior squad players, such as Pepe, James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata, departed.

Speaking after the loss to Spurs, Cristiano Ronaldo declared: "The players who have arrived have a lot of potential but Pepe, Morata, James, made us stronger, but those who are here today are younger."

Madrid's start to the season has seen the side come in for heavy scrutiny (Image: PA)

Madrid have a number of Spain's brightest young talents - including Marco Asensio, Dani Ceballos and Marcos Llorente - among their ranks.

But only Asensio has impressed at the Santiago Bernabeu, both during his emergence last term and in the current campaign.

Now Real president Perez is set to makes moves in January to bolster the squad and bring in more experience, and according to Diario Gol has put together a 10-man 'cut price' shortlist.

Each of the 10 - five of whom are from the Premier League - all have contracts that expire at the end of the current season.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Could Sanchez return to Spain? (Image: REUTERS)

Leading that list is Alexis Sanchez, the Arsenal forward whose contract continues to run down at the Emirates.

The Chile star cut a frustrated figure once more on Sunday, as the Gunners were beaten by Manchester City, the side who missed out on his signing in August and retain an interest - while Sanchez is keen to reunite with Pep Guardiola, his former Barcelona boss.

With Gareth Bale's injury problems, Karim Benzema's lack of goals and the fact Kylian Mbappe didn't arrive after Morata's departure. Madrid are in desperate need of more in attack in January; Sanchez would bring that, an ability to play in numerous positions and would also be eligible for the Champions League knockout stages.

Homecoming? (Image: Man Utd via Getty Images)

Manchester United pair Ander Herrera and Juan Mata have both also been mooted; Mata came through the youth ranks at the club, before moving to Valencia to make his breakthrough at first-team level.

Mata, 29, recently rejected a mega-money move to China and is believed to be happy at Old Trafford, while Herrera is in talks over an extension.

A third United player, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is also mentioned, but he hasn't played since April and his age is a negative - given Ronaldo turns 33 in February - while the Swede is also desperate to win the Premier League before he retires; having already won titles in Italy, Spain and France.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic still hasn't returned for United (Image: PA)

Emre Can is another linked (Image: Getty)

The fifth Premier League player attracting glances is Emre Can, Liverpool's Germany international.

Can, 23, has been heavily-linked with Juventus amid a contract stalemate at Anfield.

He, like the rest, can begin negotiations from January 1, and is being eyed due to his ability to play both in midfield and defence, as well as Llorente's failure to impress since returning from Real Sociedad.

Talks between Liverpool and Can have been ongoing for over a year and he looks increasingly likely to leave, whether in January or next July.